Bible Text: Acts 13:1-7 | Preacher: Pastor Steve
Churches are Called to be Sending Centers
Acts 13:1 Among the prophets and teachers of the church at Antioch of Syria were Barnabas, Simeon (called the black man), Lucius (from Cyrene), Manaen (the childhood companion of King Herod Antipas), and Saul.
Diversity yet Unity
We are Sent by the Power of the Holy Spirit
Acts 13:2-3 One day as these men were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, Dedicate Barnabas and Saul for the special work I have for them. So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way
Worship Requires Preparation
Acts 2:1-17
How is it possible for the church to have the strength and power to influence the shape the world we live in?
Reverence and Respect is Critical to our Worship
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.
Acts 13:4-7 Sent out by the Holy Spirit, Saul and Barnabas went down to the seaport of Seleucia and then sailed for the island of Cyprus. There, in the town of Salamis, they went to the Jewish synagogues and preached the word of God. (John Mark went with them as their assistant.)
Any Success we have in Sharing Jesus with Others is going to be by the Power of the Holy Spirit!
We are Called to be Witnesses of Jesus
1 John 1:1-4 We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is the Word of life. This one who is life itself was revealed to us, and we have seen him. And now we testify and proclaim to you that he is the one who is eternal life. He was with the Father, and then he was revealed to us. We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We are writing these things so that you may fully share our joy.
Everyone has a Place of Ministry and Every Ministry is Important
Luke 8:39 Go back home and tell people how much God has done for you. So that man went all over town telling how much Jesus had done for him.
God is building a family who love and trust Him!
A family that is going to spend eternity together!
Which Countries Receive the Most Missionaries?
Brazil
America
Russia
African Continent
Western Europe
2 Peter 3:9 God doesn’t want anyone to be lost, but He wants all people to change their hearts and lives!
Our mission field is 5 minutes away!
Matthew 25:34-40…inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me. Then these righteous ones will reply, Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you? And the King will say, I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!
The hungry:
1 in 7 people worldwide won’t have enough to eat today
1 in 4 children in developing countries are underweight
9 million people in 2014 died of hunger or related causes
The thirsty:
Imagine spending 5 hours every day going to fetch water for your family and it is teeming with bacteria, parasites, and waterborne diseases that will make you and your children sick. This is a daily reality for 1.2 billion people!
The poor:
The average American lives on ~ $100 per day. A billion people worldwide live on less than $1 per day!
The sick:
U.S. and Europe: 2 out of every 1,000 children die before age five
Third World Countries: 91 out of 1,000 children die before age five
Guatemala: 30 of every 1,000 children dies before age five
Sub-Saharan Africa: 46 of every 1,000 children die before age five
The top 5 killers of children (all are preventable):
Malaria
TB
Respiratory infections
Malnutrition
AIDS
The Church is REQUIRED “TO GO…”
Matthew 28:19-20 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.  Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.
Is anybody going to be in heaven because of you?
Philippians 3:20 But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives.